Best Trade Schools in Mobile, Alabama (2025 Guide)

Here are the best schools in Mobile. This guide ranks accredited local options, explains Alabama licensing, and shows which trades are hiring. Mobile’s maritime, aerospace, construction, and healthcare employers rely on skilled workers[^1].

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Top Trade Schools in Mobile

School	Program Length	Highlights
Bishop State Community College (Mobile)	1–2 years (certificates, AAS)	SACSCOC-accredited; welding, HVAC/R, electrical, automotive, diesel, culinary, practical nursing; multiple Mobile campuses[^2]
Alabama Aviation College at Mobile (Enterprise State CC)	18–24 months	Regionally accredited through Enterprise State CC; Part 147 Airframe & Powerplant training; avionics; located at Brookley Aeroplex near Airbus[^2]
Fortis College — Mobile	9–18 months	ACCSC-accredited; HVAC/R, medical assisting, practical nursing; day and evening options at the Mobile campus[^3]
Blue Cliff Career College — Mobile	6–15 months	Nationally accredited career school; cosmetology/esthetics, massage therapy, medical assisting; state-approved programs
Paul Mitchell The School — Mobile	10–12 months	NACCAS-accredited; cosmetology and esthetics programs; strong industry network
Coastal Alabama Community College — Gulf Shores & Foley (near Mobile)	1–2 years	SACSCOC-accredited; welding, HVAC/R, process technology, drafting/design; 45–60 minutes from downtown Mobile[^2]
UA Local 119 Plumbers & Steamfitters Apprenticeship — Mobile	4–5 years	Registered Apprenticeship (U.S. DOL); earn-while-you-learn training in plumbing, pipefitting, and HVAC service with classroom + paid jobsite hours

Tip: Use College Navigator to verify each campus’s programs, accreditation, and outcomes before you apply[^2].

Skilled Trades in Demand

• Electrician

  • Construction, shipbuilding, and industrial maintenance keep electricians busy across the Port of Mobile and Gulf Coast. Entry paths include college certificates or a registered apprenticeship. Alabama wages and employment for electricians remain solid, with steady statewide growth[^1]. See the role and training path here: Electrician.

• HVAC/R Technician

  • Mobile’s climate drives year-round HVAC work in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Programs teach diagnostics, refrigerants, and controls. Many employers want EPA 608 certification and hands-on experience. Explore career details: HVAC.

• Welder

  • Shipyards, fabrication shops, and construction contractors hire welders with structural and pipe skills. AWS or NCCER performance qualifications can help you move up quickly. Learn more about paths and certs: Welding[^8].

• Plumber

  • New builds and industrial projects need plumbers and pipefitters with code knowledge, backflow, and gas fitting experience. The quickest path is an apprenticeship that combines paid work with classroom training. Career overview: Plumbing.

Employers value safety, reliability, and certifications. A strong portfolio of lab work and on-the-job hours makes you more competitive[^1].

Median Salaries for Popular Trades

Licensing Requirements in Alabama

Electrician (Alabama Electrical Contractors Board)

• Journeyman Electrician
  • 8,000 hours of electrical experience (or approved education + experience)
  • Pass the Journeyman exam
  • Renew license and complete continuing education as required[^4]
• Electrical Contractor
  • Document experience and business qualifications
  • Pass trade and business/law exams
  • Provide required insurance/bonding[^4]

HVAC/R (Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors)

• HVAC/R Contractor license required to advertise or contract
  • 2 years of experience (or approved education + experience)
  • Pass trade and business/law exams
  • Hold EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerants
  • Maintain liability insurance and renew annually with CE as required[^5][^7]

Plumbing & Gas Fitting (Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board)

• Apprentice: register with the Board
• Journeyman: typically 2 years as an apprentice; pass exam
• Master: experience as a journeyman and pass exam
• Separate licensing tracks for gas fitting; CE required for renewal[^6]

Welding

• Alabama does not issue a statewide welder license. Employers and projects may require performance qualifications (for example, AWS D1.1 structural or pipe tests) or NCCER credentials. Maritime and industrial sites in Mobile often require process-specific weld tests[^8].

Always verify current rules with the state boards before applying or testing.

Online & Flexible Options

• Hybrid programs: Many Mobile-area colleges deliver theory online (safety, codes, electrical theory) with required in-person labs for skills checks. This is common in HVAC/R, electrical, welding, and aviation maintenance.
• Online exam prep: EPA 608, basic electrical code, and OSHA-10/30 can be prepared online, then tested through authorized providers[^7].
• Apprenticeships: Blended schedules combine evening classes with full-time paid work. This can be the fastest route to journeyman-level hours in plumbing, pipefitting, or electrical.

Caution: Hands-on trades require lab time and verified competencies. Fully online programs without labs rarely meet employer or licensing expectations. Confirm accreditation, lab requirements, and job placement support before you enroll.

Next Steps

• Learn about each trade: explore salaries, certifications, and steps to get started in our /trades/ hub and these guides:
  • Electrician
  • HVAC
  • Welding
  • Plumbing
• Planning your path:
  • How to choose a program: /guides/getting-into-trade-school
  • Pay for school or tools: /guides/financial-aid
  • Earn while you learn: /guides/apprenticeships

If you already know your trade, start with the licensing section above and contact the board to confirm current requirements.

[^1]: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Employment and wage data for construction and extraction, installation/maintenance, and production occupations. [^2]: U.S. Department of Education, College Navigator — institutional profiles and program listings. [^3]: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) — accredited institutions directory. [^4]: Alabama Electrical Contractors Board — licensing rules, applications, and continuing education. [^5]: Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors — licensing requirements and approved providers. [^6]: Alabama Plumbers & Gas Fitters Examining Board — apprentice, journeyman, and master licensing. [^7]: U.S. EPA Section 608 — technician certification for handling refrigerants. [^8]: NCCER — standardized construction and welding training and credentials.

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